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Workfare and infant health: Evidence from India's public works program

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  • Chari, A.V.
  • Glick, Peter
  • Okeke, Edward
  • Srinivasan, Sinduja V.

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between maternal employment and infant health in the context of a large workfare program that explicitly prioritizes female participation, India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Using multiple estimation strategies including a triple difference strategy that exploits a discontinuity in program eligibility at age 18, we find that the program had negative impacts on newborn infant survival, increasing newborn mortality among women who were eligible to participate in the program.

Suggested Citation

  • Chari, A.V. & Glick, Peter & Okeke, Edward & Srinivasan, Sinduja V., 2019. "Workfare and infant health: Evidence from India's public works program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 116-134.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:138:y:2019:i:c:p:116-134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.12.004
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    5. repec:ags:aaea22:335848 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Melaku, Astewale Bimr & Qaim, Matin & Debela, Bethelhem Legesse, 2023. "Maternal employment in high-value agriculture and child nutrition: Evidence from the Ethiopian cut-flower industry," Discussion Papers 338968, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    7. Bryan, Gharad & Chowdhury, Shyamal & Mobarak, Ahmed Mushfiq & Morten, Melanie & Smits, Joeri, 2021. "Encouragement and Distortionary Effects of Conditional Cash Transfers," IZA Discussion Papers 14326, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Okeke, Edward N. & Abubakar, Isa S., 2020. "Healthcare at the beginning of life and child survival: Evidence from a cash transfer experiment in Nigeria," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    9. Vedavati Patwardhan, 2023. "The impact of the Mamata conditional cash transfer program on child nutrition in Odisha, India," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(9), pages 2127-2146, September.
    10. Tagat, Anirudh, 2020. "Female matters: Impact of a workfare program on intra-household female decision-making in rural India," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    11. Vasishth, Mahima, 2024. "Employment Booms and Infant Health: Evidence from the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh," IZA Discussion Papers 17106, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Chatterjee, Jagori & Merfeld, Joshua D., 2021. "Protecting girls from droughts with social safety nets," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    13. Chari, A.V. & Valli, Elsa, 2021. "The effect of subsidized childcare on the supply of informal care: Evidence from public kindergarten provision in the US," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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